[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17379-17380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08345]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-888, C-570-105]


Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod From India and the People's 
Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Countervailing Duty Investigations

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

DATES: Applicable April 25, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Bethea at (202) 482-1491 
(India), and Thomas Schauer at (202) 482-0410 (the People's Republic of 
China (China)), AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 13, 2019, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of carbon and alloy 
steel threaded rod from China and India.\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determinations are due no later than May 17, 2019.
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    \1\ See Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod from India and the 
People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigations, 84 FR 10040 (March 19, 2019) (Initiation Notice).

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[[Page 17380]]

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which Commerce initiated 
the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1) of the Act permits 
Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 
130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation 
if: (A) The petitioner \2\ makes a timely request for a postponement; 
or (B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating, 
that the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and that 
additional time is necessary to make a preliminary determination. Under 
19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner must submit a request for 
postponement 25 days or more before the scheduled date of the 
preliminary determination and must state the reasons for the request. 
Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to 
deny the request.
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    \2\ The petitioner is Vulcan Threaded Products Inc.
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    On March 29, 2019, the petitioner submitted timely requests that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\3\ The petitioner 
stated that additional time is necessary to allow Commerce to select 
mandatory respondents and issue questionnaires, as well as to allow 
Commerce and the petitioner to review questionnaire responses and 
identify deficiencies; additional time will also permit Commerce to 
issue and receive supplemental questionnaires prior to the preliminary 
determinations.\4\ In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner 
has stated the reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary 
determinations, and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the 
requests. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the 
Act, Commerce is postponing the deadline for the preliminary 
determinations to no later than 130 days after the date on which these 
investigations were initiated, i.e., July 22, 2019.\5\ Pursuant to 
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for 
the final determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 
days after the date of the preliminary determinations.
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    \3\ See Letters from the petitioner, ``Carbon and Alloy Steel 
Threaded Rod from India: Request to Extend Preliminary Determination 
Deadline,'' dated March 29, 2019, and ``Carbon and Alloy Steel 
Threaded Rod from China: Request to Extend Preliminary Determination 
Deadline,'' dated March 29, 2019.
    \4\ Id.
    \5\ The actual deadline is July 21, 2019, which is a Sunday. In 
accordance with Commerce's practice, where a deadline falls on a 
weekend or federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next 
business day. See Notice of Clarification: Application of ``Next 
Business Day'' Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines 
Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 
2005).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: April 19, 2019.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-08345 Filed 4-24-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P